When a giant restructures: what Volkswagen’s job cuts mean for local labour markets 

Reading Time: 3 minutesRecent reports suggest Volkswagen could close several German plants and cut up to 100,000 jobs globally, in what may be its largest-ever restructuring. Factories in Hanover, Zwickau, Emden and Neckarsulm would be hit hardest, as traditional automakers face pressure from Chinese competition, rising costs, and a slower-than-expected shift to EVs. Can Europe’s manufacturing heartlands adapt fast enough to survive the EV transition?

More than movies: Can film drive regional development?

Reading Time: 4 minutesWhen fans travel to Northern Ireland to experience landscapes made famous by Game of Thrones, they are doing more than chasing a fantasy, they are fuelling a regional economy. Although the television series concluded in 2019, it still draws around 350 000 visitors each year, representing around one in six visitors from outside Northern Ireland. How can more regions reel in the benefits of movie stardom?